Sectional assembly of insulating enclosures for fuses

ABSTRACT

An assembly for enclosing a plurality of fuses in separate electrically insulating enclosures or boxes. The assembly includes a first double-sided insulating enclosure with provision at each side of a groove arrangement for receiving additional one-sided enclosures to provide a complete electrical insulation for the fuses, one from the other. Each additional one-sided or L-shaped enclosure further includes provision for attaching to it still further like enclosures to provide a final relatively rigid insulating assembly.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,742,413

Taylor 1 June 26, 1973 [54] SECTIONAL ASSEMBLY OF INSULATING 3,018,464 1/1962 Mrenna 339/193 GA ENCLOSURES FOR FUSES 3,296,576 1/1967 lvlotten, Jr.

3,171,002 2/1965 Kinnear 337/201 X [75] Inventor: Philip W. Taylor, Howell, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Taylor Industries, Inc., Howell, Primary Examiner-Roy N. Envall, Jr.

Mich. Att0rneyRobert C. Hauke, Claude A. Patalidis et 22 Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 1 pp 218,298 57 ABSTRACT An assembly for enclosing a plurality of fuses in sepa- [52] Cl 337/201 337/213, 337/216 rate electrically insulating enclosures or boxes. The as- 339/1980 sembly includes a first double-sided insulating enclo- [51] Int. Cl. H01h 85/02 Sure with provision at each Side f a groove arrange [58] Field of Search 337/201, 205, 213, mem for receiving additional one sided enclosures to 337/216 226; 200/168 K; 335/8, 9, provide a complete electrical insulation for the fuses,

152; 339/198 198 198 H one from the other. Each additional one-sided or L- shaped enclosure further includes provision for attach- [56] References cued ing to it still further like enclosures to provide a final UNITED STATES PATENTS relatively rigid insulating assembly.

2,724,814 11/1955 Stubbers 339/198 G 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SECTIONAL ASSEMBLY OF INSULATING ENCLOSURES FOR FUSES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many electrical installations, manually replaceable fuses are preferred and used for economic and other reasons as line protective devices. One of the most common type fuse set-ups includes for each power line a pair of spaced, generally U-shaped spring clip members which are mounted in separate insulating enclosures and appropriately sized and adapted to engage the terminal portions of a tubularly shaped fuse member. The clip members further have attached to them a pair of spaced binding posts for securely connecting the power carrying leads to the spring clip members. There are difficulties, particularly when dealing with the smaller sizes of fuses, relative to fuse removal and insertion. There is an accompanying hazard of electrical shock through inadvertent contact with an adjacent hot clip or with adjacent exposed metallic surfaces or between the leads of adjacent enclosures.

It will be understood that the present invention is not limited solely to sectional assemblies of insulating enclosures or terminal blocks for fuses. It may be equally well applied to enclosure assemblies for other electrical devices such as electrically operated relays and electronic switches which should be separated and insulated one from the other.

A variety of enclosure assemblies for fuses have been designed which include a plurality of prefabricated insulating double-sided enclosures having one side and both ends open to permit manual insertion or removal of fuses. Such enclosures are usually in the form of a uniformly U-shaped cross configuration. A sectional assembly usually includes an array of like U-shaped enclosures linearly mounted side by side and joined together by a variety of fasteners and interlocking means.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention has the object of providing an insulating enclosure assembly which is relatively economical to produce and which incorporates substantially improved characteristics relative to the mechanical alignment possible of the enclosures one with the other, together with a stability against displacement in any direction of one from the other once the several enclosures are assembled. In addition, the mode of assembly and the particular constructional features of the individual enclosures contribute to their electrical insulation from ground as well.

The principal object of this invention will be seen to be the provision of a sectional insulating assembly which may be fabricated from separate insulating enclosures in a more economical and efficient manner. It will further become apparent that the individual insulating enclosures are of a type of construction which permits ready pre-mounting of the electrical devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to the drawings in which like parts appearing in more than one Figure are referred to by the same reference characters, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a spread perspective view of a sectional assembly in order to best illustrate the several insulating enclosures from which it is formed; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 further illustrating the manner in which the several units are joined into one unitary assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a central enclosure unit 10 which forms the first unit of the assembly. Included in the central enclosure unit 10 is a substantially flat base portion 12 and a pair of upstanding side wall portions 14 and 16. It will be seen that the side portions 14 and 16 provide insulating protection for a spaced pair of metallic clips 18 which are contained therebetween. Each clip 18, which is normally of an electrically conductive and resilient metal such as steel, copper or brass, includes a spring member 20 which is crimped and of a generally U-shaped configuration to receive and retain the tubular type fuse normally held therein. The clips further each include a threaded fastener 24, one of which is shown, used to anchor them to the base portion 12 of the central enclosure unit 10. It will further be understood that each insulating unit is fabricated from a relatively rigid insulating material, such as plastic or hard rubber, and contains preformed holes 30 to receive the fasteners 24. At the outer end of each clip 18, there is provided an opening adapted to receive a binding post 34 to which a power conducting lead is adapted to be connected.

Reference is now made to the side enclosure units 28 which are of a generally L-shaped cross configuration and are used to add to the central insulating enclosure unit 10 at either side to extend the assembly to any length desired and to accommodate any required number of fuses. Also shown at the base 12 of each unit, L- shaped unit 28 as well as U-shaped unit 10, there is a pair of centrally formed through holes 32 which are used to provide for fasteners to anchor in a side-by-side fashion the central unit 10 and the additional side units 28.

The structure of each enclosure unit 10 and 28 includes provision for their interlocking assembly in a secure fashion. On each side at lower end of side walls 14 and 16 of central unit 10 is formed a longitudinal groove portion 38, which groove portion is adapted to receive an interfitting tongue projection 40, integrally formed on one side of the base 12 of each L-shaped side enclosure 28, in secure holding engagement. Each groove portion 38 further has an extending tab portion 41, 42 outwardly projecting downwardly at either end so that once the mating tongue portion 40 is inserted therein it is limited against longitudinal displacement.

It will further be seen that the type of construction employed in the joining of the units provides a continuous insulating barrier protecting against arcing to ground as between the joined separate units 10 and 28.

It will further become apparent that the L-shaped units 28 by reason of a the use of single side wall facilitate the easy assembly of the internal clips 18 prior to the units being added to the assembly.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view extended through an assembly to clarify the interlocking side-by-side relationship of the central U-shaped unit 10 with an adjacent L-shaped side unit 28. It will be seen that the through holes 32 used for anchoring the enclosures on a backing plate are of a countersunk shape in order to keep the head of the fastening bolt or screw below the upper surface of the base portion 12. It will further be seen that there is provided a recess 43 in the upper surface of each base 12 which permits the flush mounting of the individual clips 18. The mating relationship between each groove portion 38 and the matching tongue portion 40 is also clarified. There is further formed an insulating barrier as between ground and fuse assemblies which includes tongue portion 40 extending substantially throughout the length of the adjoining groove 38. The insulation is completed by the direct abutment at the ends of the assemblies between laterally extending tabs 41, 42, and the mating side face portions 410 and 42a on the adjacent unit. The arrangement of units in phantom lines shows how additional L-shaped units may be added to the assembly with a flexibility in number 28 which is not matched by the prior art showings.

By way of summary, once a central U-shaped unit and a side L-shaped unit 28 are assembled or alternately when further side units 28 are added to the assembly, the adjacent units are retained against longitudinal displacement, one relative to the other, to the tongue and groove interfitting between groove portion 38 and tongue 40 in each. To this is added the locking engagement or limit afforded by each tab 41 and 42. While each additional unit 28 is being fastened to a suitable common backing plate, it is likewise restrained against falling outwardly from the backing member through the engagement of the lower surface of the groove portion 38 with the upper surface of the tongue portion 40. In each case, it is particularly easy to preform and to preassemble initially each clip before the side unit 28 is added to the assembly. This is made possible through the single-sided construction of each additional unit 28.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a substantially improved and novel construction for sectional type fuse assemblies.

What is claimed is:

l. A fuse mounting sectional assembly for mounting a plurality of individual fuse enclosures in locking sideby-side relationship on a plane mounting surface comprising: a first insulating enclosure including a fuse mounting base portion and a pair of integral upwardly extending side wall portions, each of said side wall portions having a longitudinally extending groove formed proximate its lower end, and at least one insulating side enclosure having a fuse mounting base portion and a single integral extending side wall portion and mountable at either side of said first enclosure, said side enclosure including at the lower end of its one open side a longitudinally and outwardly extending tongue portion engageable with one of said grooves of said first enclosure.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is included an outwardly extending tab at each end of said groove portion of said first enclosure for restraining the mating tongue portion of the side enclosure and the side enclosure itself from longitudinal movement after insertion in said groove portion.

3. The combination as set forth in claim ll wherein said tongue portion is of a length substantially coextensive with that of said groove portion for providing an insulating barrier for effectively preventing fuse arcing to said mounting surface. 4. A sectional assembly for mounting a plurality of individual electrical devices in adjacent, electrically insulating enclosures comprising: a first enclosure of a substantially U-shaped cross configuration with a pair of parallel upstanding integral side walls, at least one additional enclosure mountable at either side of said first enclosure, said additional enclosure being of a substantially L-shaped cross configuration with a single up-, standing integral side wall, said first and second enclosures each having at least one opening for retaining a fastener to mount it upon a common plane mounting surface, said first enclosure further having a groove extending longitudinally at the lower end of both side walls, and said second enclosure having an outwardly extending tongue alignable and engageable with said groove at either side of said first enclosure.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said groove portion formed at either side of said first enclosure includes a confining tab at either end thereof for restraining said second enclosure from longitudinal movement with respect to said first enclosure.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tongue portion of said second enclosure is of a substantial thickness and coextensive with said groove portion for substantially the entire length of said enclosures to provide an additional insulating barrier to prevent arcing to the mounting surface from said electrical devices.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said L-shaped second enclosures further includes a like groove to that formed in said first enclosure, said groove being at the lower end of the upstanding side wall of said second enclosure to accommodate the further juxtaposed mounting of a third enclosure substantially identical to said second enclosure with the tongue of said third enclosure engaged in the groove of said second enclosure.

asses 

1. A fuse mounting sectional assembly for mounting a plurality of individual fuse enclosures in locking side-by-side relationship on a plane mounting surface comprising: a first insulating enclosure including a fuse mounting base portion and a pair of integral upwardly extending side wall portions, each of said side wall portions having a longitudinally extending groove formed proximate its lower end, and at least one insulating side enclosure having a fuse mounting base portion and a single integral extending side wall portion and mountable at either side of said first enclosure, said side enclosure including at the lower end of its one open side a longitudinally and outwardly extending tongue portion engageable with one of said grooves of said first enclosure.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is included an outwardly extending tab at each end of said groove portion of said first enclosure for restraining the mating tongue portion of the side enclosure and the side enclosure itself from longitudinal movement after insertion in said groove portion.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tongue portion is of a length substantially coextensive with that of said groove portion for providing an insulating barrier for effectively preventing fuse arcing to said mounting surface.
 4. A sectional assembly for mounting a plurality of individual electrical devices in adjacent, electrically insulating enclosures comprising: a first enclosure of a substantially U-shaped cross configuration with a pair of parallel upstanding integral side walls, at least one additional enclosure mountable at either side of said first enclosure, said additional enclosure being of a substantially L-shaped cross configuration with a single upstanding integral side wall, said first and second enclosures each having at least one opening for retaining a fastener to mount it upon a common plane mounting surface, said first enclosure further having a groove extending longitudinally at the lower end of both side walls, and said second enclosure having an outwardly extending tongue alignable and engageable with said groove at either side of said first enclosure.
 5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said groove portion formed at either side of said first enclosuRe includes a confining tab at either end thereof for restraining said second enclosure from longitudinal movement with respect to said first enclosure.
 6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tongue portion of said second enclosure is of a substantial thickness and coextensive with said groove portion for substantially the entire length of said enclosures to provide an additional insulating barrier to prevent arcing to the mounting surface from said electrical devices.
 7. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said L-shaped second enclosures further includes a like groove to that formed in said first enclosure, said groove being at the lower end of the upstanding side wall of said second enclosure to accommodate the further juxtaposed mounting of a third enclosure substantially identical to said second enclosure with the tongue of said third enclosure engaged in the groove of said second enclosure. 